diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 4a9a28b2f9..5c0e666e01 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -20,16 +20,16 @@ include Makefile.INCLUDE
 REV        := $(shell git rev-parse --short HEAD)
 BRANCH     := $(shell git rev-parse --abbrev-ref HEAD)
 HOSTNAME   := $(shell hostname -f)
-BUILD_DATE := $(shell date)
+BUILD_DATE := $(shell date +%Y%m%d-%H:%M:%S)
 BUILDFLAGS := -ldflags \
 	      " -X main.buildVersion $(REV)\
 		-X main.buildBranch $(BRANCH)\
 		-X main.buildUser $(USER)@$(HOSTNAME)\
-		-X main.buildDate '$(BUILD_DATE)'\
-		-X main.goVersion '$(GO_VERSION)'\
-		-X main.leveldbVersion '$(LEVELDB_VERSION)'\
-		-X main.protobufVersion '$(PROTOCOL_BUFFERS_VERSION)'\
-		-X main.snappyVersion '$(SNAPPY_VERSION)'"
+		-X main.buildDate $(BUILD_DATE)\
+		-X main.goVersion $(GO_VERSION)\
+		-X main.leveldbVersion $(LEVELDB_VERSION)\
+		-X main.protobufVersion $(PROTOCOL_BUFFERS_VERSION)\
+		-X main.snappyVersion $(SNAPPY_VERSION)"
 
 all: test